System and Method for Networking a Plurality of Nodes

1. A positioning device coupled to a network, comprising: a receiver portion; a transmitter portion; a processor coupled to the receiver portion and transmitter portion; and a memory coupled to the processor to store one or more instruction sequences, said instruction sequences to cause the positioning device to transmit communication signals between said positioning device and a second positioning device, wherein said memory further includes information representative of a topology said network, said information to be updated in response to network topology changes, said positioning device and second positioning device to be addressable by one or more parameters that are useable to selectively communicate data, wherein a master transmitter sets the basic frequency and phase of said network and said positioning device.

2. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein said positioning device and second positioning device transmit said communications signals wirelessly.

3. The positioning device of claim 2 , wherein said one or more parameters comprise spatial parameters for said positioning device and second positioning device, said spatial parameters to include at least one of a position parameter and a velocity parameter.

4. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein said network is self-configuring in that a new device may join said network by protocol sharing, and said information representative of the topology will be automatically updated to reflect the addition of said new device to the network.

5. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein said communication signals include non-position data and relative position information.

6. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein relative position information is derived from said communication signals using triangulation techniques.

7. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the network further comprising weak-position-signal devices and strong-position-signal devices, and wherein said communication signals are transmitted to said weak-position-signal nodes by being relayed through said strong-position-signal nodes.

8. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the network further comprises a plurality of navigation beacons which transmit position signals to said positioning device and second positioning device.

9. The positioning device of claim 8 , wherein said communication signals are synchronized to said position signals.

10. The positioning device of claim 8 , wherein said communication signals are used as ranging signals for additional positioning devices, said additional positioning devices to determine signal propagation time using signal time tagging.

11. The positioning device of claim 8 , wherein said position signals are usable for determining absolute positioning information for said positioning device and second positioning device.

12. The positioning device of claim 8 , wherein said communication signals include non-position data and absolute position information.

13. The positioning device of claim 8 , wherein said communication signals substitute for said position signals in determining position information.

14. The positioning device of claim 13 , wherein said communication signals are used to provide frequency and signal phase assistance in the determination of position information.

15. The positioning device of claim 14 , wherein said frequency and signal phase assistance is used by said positioning device to detect attenuated positioning signals from said plurality of navigation beacons.